Fruit orienting, inspecting, and cutting machine



1954 R. EWALD ET AL 2,685,899

FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

Aug. 10, 1954 R, EWALD ET AL 2,685,899

FRUIT-ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 g \D INVENTOR-S.

rzy 0. 6/205} 3 %Z@ 4%) 915%, 2

Aug. 10, 1954 R. L. EWALD ET AL FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 10, 1954 R. L. EWALD ETAL 2,685,899

FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 10, 1954 R. L. EWALD ET AL 2,685,399

FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 9, 1949 Aug. 10, 1954 R. 1.. EWALD ET AL FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 9, 1949 IN VEN TOR.5

10, 1954 R. EWALD ET AL 2,535,899

FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, CUTTING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1949 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TOR-.5.

Aug. 10, 1954 R, EwALD 2,685,899

FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CPEHNGQMACHINE Filed April 9, 1949 lo Sheets-Sheet 9 Q Q Q w s N IN V EN TORS.

Aug. 10, 1954 R, L. EWALD ET AL FRUIT ORIENTING, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed April 9, 1949 flwiz /d Patented Aug. 10, 1954 FRUIT ORIEN TIN G, INSPECTING, AND CUTTING MACHIN E Raymond L. Ewald and Henry A. Skog, Olympia,

Wash, assignors to Special Equipment Company, Portland, reg., a corporation of Oregon Application April 9, 1949, Serial No. 86,492

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for proc essing fruit and particularly whole peaches.

The disclosure and claims of the present application relate to a machine for processing fruit wherein means is provided for effecting the suture.

plane orientation of the peach, in combination with sensing or inspecting means for determining whether or not the peach has been oriented properly as to its suture plane, and including mechanism operable to prevent the peach from. being further processed, including the peach bi secting and/ or the peach pitting operation, in the event that the peach has not been so properly oriented as to its suture plane.

In the present invention various mechanisms are combined to effect the foregoing functions; and in particular mechanism is associated with sensing or inspecting means for determining whether or not the suture plane of the peach has been oriented as to a particular plane, in combina tion with means for discharging the improperly oriented. whole peach from the machine before the peach can be fed to the peach bisecting mechanism. In more particular, the invention includes means for conveying or transporting a peach from th orienting means to the bisecting means and in combination with means for determining whether or not the peach has been properly oriented as to its suture plane, and if not, there is provided means for discharging the peach from the conveying or transfer means before the peach can be fed to the bisecting means so that the improperly oriented whole peach is not improperly bisected and whereby the peach can then be recovered and again pass through the machine for subsequent treatment.

Still another aspect of the invention is that it includes inspecting or sensing means associated with means for supporting a whole peach, which sensing means is adapted to roll along the peripheral surface of the peach and through the long axis of the stem indent of the peach, which of course corresponds to the suture plane of the peach, together with means actuated by a predetermined reiative bodily movement between the whole peach and the sensing means that rolls along the surface of the peach governing the operation of actuating mechanism for precluding or preventing the peach being bisected in the event that the peach be not properly oriented as to its suture plane. I

In yet another aspect of the invention there is provided means including an orienting member generally shaped to enter or fit into the longitudinal axis of the stem indent of the peach to a maximum extent, together with means for producing a relative movement between a peach and said orienting member whereby the peach is correctly oriented as to its suture plane and whereby the suture plane of the peach is shifted into a proper predetermined plane, together with means for conveying the peach so properly oriented to a suture plane including an inspection member operable to determine whether or not the stem indent or suture plane of said peach is in a predetermined plane, in combination with means operable if the suture plane of the peach be not in said predetermined plane to prevent the bisecting or any cutting operation performed on the peach whereby the peach thus improperly oriented may be returned to the machine for subsequent processing.

A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with means for supporting a whole peach, a member shaped to enter to maximum extent the longitudinal stem axis of the whole peach, together with means for causing relative shifting movement between the whole peach and said member while the peach is so supported for causing the entry to maximum extent of said member into the long axis of the peach whereby properly to orient the suture plane of the peach, in asso ciation with means for feeding a peach thus oriented to peach bisecting means, and in combination further with sensing means operable upon the peach prior to the peach reaching the peach bisecting station for determining whether or not the peach has been properly oriented as to its suture plane, and including mechanism for precluding the feeding or for preventing the bisecting of the peach if the peach be not so properly oriented.

More specifically, one of the features of the invention; comprises in association with the invention of the foregoing paragraph, a specific means for discharging the peach from the peach feeding means before the peach is fed to the peach bisecting or processing means in the event that the peach is not so properly oriented as to its suture plane.

These and other objects and aspects of invention will be apparent from a persual of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of the machine as seen from the in-feed pitting stations;

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line L4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is an enlarged section taken on the line 'l--'l of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a View similar to Figure '7, but showing the feeding mechanism in a subsequent position;

Figure 9 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the whole fruit cup;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail sectional View taken on the line i ill of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken through the line l2l2 of Figure 6;

, Figure 13 is an enlarged section taken on the line I3-l3 of Figure 6;

Figure 14 shows, enlarged perspective views of the peach holding members;

Figures 15 and 16 are front views of the same fruit holding jaws;

Figure 17 is an enlarged section taken on the line li-l'l. of Figure 2,,andinc1uding in one aspect of the invention meansfor orienting the suture plane of the whole fruit, in combination with means for preventing thewhole fruit from being bisected, or in connection with another aspect of the invention, showing fruit sensing or inspecting means adapted to contact the whole peach to determine whether or not the suture plane of the peach has been correspondingly oriented, and in association'therewith means for preventing the peachfrom being bisected or processed in the event that the peach is not properly oriented as to its suture plane;

Figure 18 is a section taken at right angles to Figure 17 Figure 19 is a View taken somewhat after the View of Figure 1'7 but showing a different position of the actuating mechanism;

Figure 20 is still another ,viewshowing a different position ofthe parts;

Figure 21 is a View of a cam mechanism;

Figure 22 is a view of the peeling cutter;

Figure 23 is a View of the action of the mechanism shown in Figure 1'? when the wheel does not enter the stem indent of the sutur plane;

Figure 24 is a similar view'showing the peach discharged fromthe feeding or transfer means;

Figures 25 and 26 are enlarged'views of the peach bisecting mechanism; and

Figure 27 is an enlarged view of one of the cams for vibrating the fruit supporting and feeding member I76.

Referring now to the drawings, in detail:

General machine structure lhe invention of the present construction-preferably takes the form of an upright, substantially struction capable of connecting and disconnecting the power source to the main operating shaft of the machine.

The shaft It carries a gear 2 l, driving another gear 22 on the horizontal shaft M. This shaft It carries two main cams 2d and 26 fixed on opposite ends thereof. Each of these cams are doublefaced so as to provide cam operating means on each side thereof. Cam face 24a comprises a cam track. in which operates a hereinafter described tion transversely to the shaft Hi.

roller on a vertically reciprocable slide for raising and lowering the main tool carrying slide hereinafter described. An opposed cam face forms a .roller race, in which a roller on a horizontally reciprocable slide 28 shiftsin a horizontal me- This slide carries on its outer end a bearing pivot 33 linked to a bearing pivot 32 on an arm as fixed on a vertical shaft 36. This shaft has fixed hearings in the housing frame 2 of the main upright frame of the machine. Vertical shaft 35 is oscillated by the slide 28 for operating'the peeling mechanism, th details of which are not herein shown.

. The cam 26 of, the shaft it has a cam face Zea forming a cam race, which operates a roller, connected to and operating a horizontally reciprocable slide 38, as shown in Figure 3. This slide 38 is also provided on its outer end with bearing it having a vertical pin 52, to the lower-end of which is pivoted a link 34. This link t l carries at its outer end an arm 45, the outer bearing 38 of which is pinned to a vertical oscillatable shaft 50, which is mounted in the corner post 5 of the frame opposite the vertical shaft .36. This shaft iii? has afiixed to its upper end an arm hereinafter referred to, which,v in turn pivotally con meets at its outer end to arelatively long rod running diagonally across to auniversal connection which is, in turn, connected to a mechanism that operates asector gear reciprocable about a horizontal axis, for operating the mechanism which actuates the pitting knives, the details of which are also herein omitted.

Cam race 2% operates a vertically reciprocable slide 52 (Figure 6, our Patent 2,398,780) the upper end of which is provided with a rod 54 having a rack tooth. portion 55 operating a pinion 58 on a horizontal shaft. 65.

This shaft has on one end a bevel gem-.62 which, in turn, operates bevel gear ti on shaft t8 having bearings on the outside of the vertical frame member and on the same level as the main fruit cup turret here- I inaftcr described, whichturret is above that lower "level of the machine at which the shafts iii and I it} are located. The shaft 66 operates the mecha- .nism for. positionin the auxiliary fruit holding .means, specifically the pad, over the fruit cup, for

holding the half fruit from tilting duringpeelzing. and also:for.oscil1ating the fruit discharg ing means, eiectingthe processed half fruit from the machine.

A second level of the main rectangular frame of the machine bounded by the uprights 2 to 8, inclusive, provides the location for the Geneva gears for driving the main or half fruit-holding turret, and also the whole fruit turret, including the driving means therebetween, whereby the main or half fruit holder turret is driven at twice the speed as the whole fruit turret. To effect this function, the shaft I II carries between its ends, a bevel gear Iii] (see Figure 3) meshin with a bevel gear I I2 on a vertical shaft II 'l mounted in the bearing I it carried by a cross frame I I8. This cross frame is supported at one end by suitable vertical brace connected to a cross bar I26 (see Figure 5), in turn carried by the vertical upright frame members 4 and 8. The opposite end I22 of cross frame H8 is bolted to an end support by a projection I24 from a horizontal cross bar I25 carried by the opposite vertical uprights 2 and 6 of the main frame'at about the level of the cross frame H8. This cross bar I26 is preferably an integral part of the substantial triangularly shaped supplementary frame carrying the whole fruit turret.

Shaft II I carries a bevel gear H2 and also carries above it a gear I28, which latter meshes with a second gear I38 on a bearing I32' on the cross frame I I8. Gear I30 meshes with the larger gear use horizontally fixed on vertical shaft I36 having a bearing in cross frame I I8. Turret shaft I56 is surrounded by a bearing I38, above which is a long sleeve I39, along which is fixed, a Geneva gear ass having slots cooperating with a Geneva member I42 on shaft II4. This latter Geneva member N32 has a circular periphery on which is mounted roller I44 for cooperation with the radial slots of gear ice aforesaid for intermittently rotating sleeve I 39- and for holding it stationary between partial turns. The upright shaft I I4 above the Geneva member carries a sprocket gear I46 (see Figure 5) driving a chain I48 running horizontally across the frame of the machine to a larger sprocket I50 fixed to shaft I 52. This shaft is mounted upon a substantially triangular frame I53 carried by and integral with the cross bar I26. The frame I53 carries a bearing for the shaft I52, and also has a heavy extension bearing I5 3 for the whole fruit turret shaft I55. Both of these shafts are vertical and parallel to each other. The whole fruit turret shaft I55 extends vertically upward toward the top of the frame. The shaft I52 has pinned thereto just above the bearing I53 a part of the Geneva, this part carrying the roller I58.

In addition, the shaft I52 has pinned below the support I54 a gear wheel I59 which meshes with another gear I56, which is pinned to the bottom of the shaft I55. Just above the gear I56, cam IE0 is pinned to shaft I55, and above the bearing I54 the shaft I55 carries a relatively long sleeve IBI to which is keyed the cooperative part I62 of the Geneva, whereby, through the intermediary of the Geneva I62, the sleeve I6I is intermittently rotated. Sleeve I 6| carries the Whole fruit feed turret.

Whole Fruit Feed Station and orienting Means In accordance with the present invention initial feeding and orienting means is provided for the fruit whereby an operator may feed whole peaches one at a time to the whole fruit holding mechanism carried by the whole fruit turret, and

and suture plane of the whole fruit is precisely and definitely located with respect to this receiver, whereby upon the shiftable operation of this feeding mechanism or receiver, the whole peach is properly oriented both as to stem indent and suture plane, and also automatically conveyed to whole peach gripping means preferably in the form of spaced fingers or jaws which are adapted automatically to grip the so oriented whole fruit adjacent and on substantially opposite sides of the suture plane of the whole fruit, and thereafter firmly to hold the whole fruit in the precise position in which it was placed in the first mentioned whole fruit receiving means. Thereafter this whole fruit gripping means is turned by'the turret mechanism carrying it to a plurality of stations provided with mechanism for operating upon the peach while thus precisely held.

Direct positioning and orientation of the whole peach in the machine and the maintenance of control of a certain alignment with respect to the suture plane and stem cavity is very important for eficient results obtained from successive processing operations on the peach while it is fed through the machine. It is undesirable to provide feedin mechanism which gives the operator any particular leeway in properly placing the peach in the feeding jaws of the whole fruit turret, and therefore the hereinbefore described means is provided for eliminating all chance and guesswork by the provision of means whereby the operator merely places the stem cavity of'the whole peach over a locating means, and in the construction of the whole fruit receiver with concaved walls, whereby the rounded body of the peach automatically aligns its suture, so that subsequent operations may be exactly determined.

In the present invention, means is provided whereby relative motion between the whole fruit and its orienting means is effected and more particularly during the orienting operation so as to bring the fruit and its orienting means into proper registration both as to stem indent and as to the suture plane indent of the fruit. More specifically, and as will hereinafter be pointed out, orienting means is provided having a longer axis and a shorter axis of predetermined character and kind in respect to the longer axes and shorter axes of the stem indent of the fruit such as a peach to be oriented in connection with the free or loose supporting of the fruit and the orienting means in respect to each other and in connection with a pressure engagement therebetween, whereby to effect the shifting of the fruit in respect to the orienting means both with reference to its stem indent and with reference to its suture plane to effect both the suture plane and stem indent shifting orientation of the fruit while thus loosely supported, for delivery to fruit sensing or inspecting means which is thereafter automatically operative to determine whether or not the fruit has been properly oriented as to its suture plane and this sensing and inspecting mechanism is constructed and arranged automatically to control means for determining whether or not the fruit is thereafter conveyed to processing mechanism such, for instance, as a fruit bisecting means.

More specifically, the means for orienting the fruit as to its stem indent and also as to its suture plane indent and means for causing relative movement between the whole peach and its orienting means, is constructed and arranged to .tive1y: ho1ter c contactr longer axis I thanthe radius of. curvature of: the: peach indent transversely .uCf .1; the 'ulongitudinal axis sdent "its maximum. depth or" -pe1letration into athe ....peach thereof is aligned. with thelongitudinal axis. of the stem indent. It-is tov be understoodithat the :radius of curvature: of this longiaxis surface of :the suture plane-orienting. meanswmay be in- 1. finite. via, the orientin -means may be a .fiat

operate in conjunction. with means whereby-the "whole' fruit may be: positioned .approximatelyrin a: predeterinined..position:= by; ani toperatorsaa'nd I thereafter automatically :1" edto-iruitliolding con- I I veying. andv gripping jaws". oripther? equivalent oxumeans 4114; as-shownz 1n-'F1gure .2; not only in mean which operate .to narryrthefnuit'to thei in- 1 specting .or sensing mechanisnr .iheretoforeiudescribed, and. means is: provided:irr-zassooiation .v'Jith this movable; wholefruitxreceiver and-:fized- I t mechanism fey g t relativefmovementli10'*Wlth:the"VTtlC2t11yidlspDsed'Centlal longitudinal -=whereby to cause the 1; exact registration :of; the

. stern indent and 'rnorespecificallyxthezlong :axis of the-stern indent with a preformedlongaxis of the orienting'rneans, whereby toeff'ectccomplete registration or"-said.long.raxes and therebyreffect proper. orientation. of the .suture;.plane 11 0f. .the

whole peach. or other. .fruit havingisuchshaped indent onto any other .fruit. having aizproperly formed stem indent. The: outer'end: of. therblock all I. t-carrieszmeans :for orientingithesteni'indentiandisuture plane of i the: wholezfruit. i'This comprises orienting" means for supporting andiiorienting'lthe :.fruit;. which .means has a 'relatively".longer axisnand. a zrelaaxis; :and is provided. with. a peach hichr along-xisaid relatively is a radius ofncurvaturr-rzgreater thereof; 1 .inaddition: this. stem .in-

and suture ..pla1ie ..orientingx.:rneans;:has

stein. indent when the lon-geraxis surface provided it has also the othericharacteristics hereinbefore. just. recited.

.. .lvlore specifically, in:the present instance this fruit stem: indentandt suture -plane orienting meanscoinprises asubstantiallycentrally located, elongated member 114 lying within a cup H5, said member beingdesigned to fit loosely and freely, yet substantially to-conform: with'and project into'the longitudinal axis'ofsthe stem in- "dent or cavity of thewhole-peachl".LWhenthus aligned; andv withithe whole peach resting'thereon in the position shown infligurev '7 of-thedrawthe. whole peach will settle down onto the orienting member il i andrsaid-rnembenwill project'into ithe sternwcavity to 2;:maximum degree.

' In any 1 nonaligned :peach, .the: :orienting means El i will project only partiallyyinto theistem cav ity. when the stem in'dent'registersigenerallywith Jthe orienting: means lid but; does .not'ihave'. the

long axis of therstem :cavityalignedwith the long of the orienting means H t.

' In addition, on opposite sides; thereof;-.:the-

cradle is provided withconcavedtor rounded Walls which are substantially cup-eshapedx? These: walls at the-rear arecut away asshownrat 2515., so as not to. interfererwith thex'openi-ngzycandz closing movements of .::the:- lower WhOlEi-lfllllti holding lingers 01"jELWS, as zishoivn tin. Figure: 8. It *will be. noted that the: angle armi IIES-Lis arranged so *that,. when: in .position..-to; 1place.:the whole fruit betiveenJthe. holding .ijfiWS'llBi'fiBlIlafter referred to, the stema-Xis oftthe'wholepeach is angularly disposed. with respect: to a horizontal line passing. thrQughLthe. oenter iof. thezwhole fruit receiving means.-z :Specificallyzthe stem'axis is; downwardly.- inclined "abouta3Q-ydegrees: to such line. Thisis particularly impcrtant because', as

alignnient with the :radius of the Whole fruit-1e eceiving turret =l'1inhut also with the radius of the turret 4-52=lVhEIGbYQOI1CE the suturev plane of the wholerpeach is properly registered and lined up zzplaneithrough the long axis of the: orienting umeans l-l i-the-whole peachthus oriented will be ied to the Whole .fruit' gripping jaws which will ..:grip thepeachiion opposite. sides of the suture ;15,.-.plane.and hold, it thus oriented. Thereafter upon partial/rotation of the: Whole fruitturret Sill! the peach maintained in thiszoriented position .Will be carried tosthei bisecting or. saw-in station wherein the. saw 375 has tits plane. of 'rotation 120.. .disposed.radiallyiof this same turretiifill sov that the saw acts upon the oriented peach the vsaw will cut through thesuture-planeot the flesh and pit of the peach. Thereafter as will hereinafter be set .forth,..the sawed halves-of. the; peachthus 325.heldtogetherwhh their-suture planes properly oriented will. becarried .to.the..main'turret 452, and be.-.deposited inthe half cupsin such a man- .ner that the suture .plane willtlie substantially .j flush. .With'the topof. thecup. and the long central p axis of the lpit' willlieradially of the turret 452 and also .extendingradi'ally' of the division lines of the two. cup. sections,,..and Will also extend radially of the .turret' .652. ..A slide carrying the two jpitter'blades P, asshown in Figure2, is situ- .ated so'that in'the pitting of eachhalfi pit sectiontheztwo pivotallyswinging pittei'. blades will move about axes. .para1lel..with -.the..1ong. axis of the. pit and will cut. aroundithe longcurve-d marginal .e'dges'of the pit, meeting on .the..-underside 40"of the pitwh'ereby cleanly to severithe. pit from the flesh or the half peach.

Itwill thus .be seenithat the receiver Hiand particularlytheorienting or positioning. member H iprovides'gorieriting means" for. "efie'cting f the i orientingr'ofthe whole" fruit, and. specifically a "whole peachrboth in respectvto'itsistem indent and-suture plane'prior toand. as the fruit is con- -veyed andiintrodu'ced" intoi'the transferring. or r conveying mecha'nismsofthe machine, now to be 0 'further describedflt-Will be noted that the slope of the'receiverwalls, the. character of. the orienti'ng member PM Which is shaped'to. lie. withinv and ="extend'longitudi-nally of the peach stemindent along the suture plane, and .the movement of 'thereceiver'causesithe fruit to be oriented both in respect 1 to "its. stem.indent and, suture. plane,

""whereby subsequent cutting andprocessing oper- "ations will-be properly.effected in respect. thereto,- as will presently appear.

(so "In addition to thefforegoing orienting means for positioningithe suture planeof. the whole fruitin a.predetermined plane,..means is also provided for shiftingyithe.orienting .means- 114 relatively tothe whole peach whileflthe whole peach is supported on said orienting means i'M.

.? ln=the manualfee'ding of peaches to the presient-imachine-,-. .an operatorsis-':required.zquickly to place a; succession::ofwWhole. peaches one after another .2011. the,:.crad1e..- orv Whole fruit receiver 1-15.. :Inw'the'xinormally intended operation; the

i; operator: attemptsxtorplace :eachpeach so that therlong :axisiofithe-istem indent-will overlie and orienting m'eainsi HM. in -numerous "cases" due or indifferences the peach may be placed on the orienting means I14 so that its long axis does not exactly coincide with the long axis of the stem indent of the peach. In instances the long axis of the stem indent of the whole peach and the long axis of the orienting means may be angularly disposed or in those cases where such two long axes do register,still due to slight projections, bumps or abnormalities in the side walls of the stem cavity the suture plane of the peach may be slightly tilted out of a vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of j the orienting means I74.

In order to cause correct registration of the stem indent or the long axis of the stem indent of the peach with the long axis centrally of the orienting means I and to cause a plane passing diametrically through the peach and through the long axis of the stem indent to register with a plane passing vertically through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means I I4 whereby correctly to orient the suture plane radially vertically of the whole fruit receiving turret Ill and passing between the two pairs of whole peach holding jaws as seen in Figure 9, means is provided for relatively shifting the orienting means I14 and the whole peach supported thereon in a manner to cause the two long axes of the stem indent of the peach and the central long axis of the orienting means to shift angularly relatively into exact registration and/or also to cause the peach to shift from tilted position into true vertical position with the suture plane thereof lying in said vertical radial plane of the turret Ill as aforesaid.

This function is accomplished in the present device by forming the cam Ifiii with relatively small projections or rough surfaces I69 in the cam race in which the roller I85 works. Preferably the cam IE5 is formed as a cast iron cam having inherent roughness in the cam track or race whereby vibration is imparted by such roughened surface to the roller I65. This vibration is considerably multiplied, approximately on a six-fold basis by means of the lever I63,

the arm Hi6, lever 68 to the receiver I75. Thus an additional movement or vibration is imparted to the orienting means I'M upon which the whole fruit is placed. By thus supporting the whole fruit on the orienting means I'M while imparting vertical movement or vibration to this orienting means Ht, the peach is vibrated sufficiently so that misplacement of the peach upon this orienting projection l'M will cause the peach to shift or turn about a vertical axis, and angularly relatively to the longitudinal means I'M so that the long axis of the stem indent of the peach will come to aligned position with-the central longitudinal axis of the longitudinal means Ill. Furthermore, in the event that peaches have slight projections, these bumps or creases on the side walls of their stem indents would otherwise prevent the peach from settling down on the orienting means I'M. It will be found that such abnormalities on the side walls of the stem indent will cause the suture plane of the peach to be slanted a slight amount to the vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means I'M. It has been found that the vibration imparted to, the

peachin the manner aforesaid will vibrate the 7 peach suificiently so that the orienting means will pass by these bumps, projections or creases andthe peach will settle down to its maximum extent onto the orienting means [14 and thereby cause the suture plane of the peach to swing toward the vertical plane and hence to coincide with the vertical plane through the central longitudinal axis of the orienting means whereby each successive peach is positioned and properly oriented with its suture plane vertical and aligned with the plane passing centrally of and through the long axis of the orienting means. Hence during this vibration as the oriented peach is conveyed by upward movement of the lever I88 from the position shown in Figure 7 to that shown in Figure 8, and the peach placed between the four jaws of the whole fruit turret, the peach will be oriented and positioned so that its suture plane is disposed vertically and aligned centrally of the four jaws and radially of a vertical plane passing between said jaws and radially of the Whole fruit turret 30!].

Once the long axis of the stem indent registers with the orienting means I M said means will, project to maximum extent into the cavity forming the long axis of the stem indent so further vibration will not dislodge this registration, and hence the suture plane will remain properly oriented.

Hence the fruit thus properly oriented is positioned between and held by the holding jaws and is carried through the machine at such proper oriented alignment of the suture plane so that subsequently when the hereinafter mentioned cutters 294 operate they will cut in a predetermined manner with reference to the suture plane of the peach and so also when the peach is passed to the saw mechanism the plane of operation of the sawing mechanism will coincide with the suture plane of the oriented peach and the saw will sever through the whole peach substantiall.

on and through the suture plane of the peach.

Whole fruit conveying mechanism Referring now to the turret proper and to the fruit holding jaws, it will be observed that the intermittently rotatable sleeve 56E carries an additional sleeve ill and affixed thereto are a plurality or post supports I'm, such supports beingradially spaced around the central vertical axis of the turret.

upon which the whole fruit holding jaws are mounted. By reference to Figures 8 to 16, inclusive, the construction and operation or" these jaws will be apparent. The lower jaw 513i is pivoted as at i 36 to the upright H3. This lower jaw is formed with two integral space jaws or fruit gripping fingers i525, which have concaved portions it? and its adapted to engage the curvilinear contour of the whole peach on opposite The upper jaw is made in two pieces, whereas the lower jaw is preferably made in a single piece. The details orconstruction of the upper are shown in Figures 13 and 1.4. This upperjaw com-- prises a head portion 582 centrally apertured as at I558. The head is provided with a lateral lu ISS hereinafter referredto, and with an operating roller see on its upper portion, and a vertically."-

extending tcot-h arm it i, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of thearrn of the lower clamping jaw of the whole fruit holding mechanism. In

Each one of these supports its; in turn, is provided with an upright extension addition, the headportionifil is providedwith a laterally extending fruit clamping jaw Hi2 having a curvilinear fruit'contacting.face for-engaging the .contour of. the peach on one sideof the In addition, 'this'iaw isprovid'cd wit-nan. upstanding lug vliidflxto .which'the plane or" the suture.

upper ends of the spring 18.6 connect-The "co operative part of the upper jaw is. formed with a round. bearing i951" which i'easily'fits. within the opening 968 of the ,head 18'! to'yperinit relative angular movementbetween'thegiparts." his'head gripping port-ion. lfilj'which'" is 'arcuatelv. curve-11* asat H985 to grip the contour of the peach on the opposite sides of. the suture planes, as shown in Figures 15 and ,16. cooperating lug 89' provide, a lost motion .con nection, which permits two portionsof this upper jaw to have vertical adjustment,- as' shown in Figures 15 and 16, whereby in .the event a peach isheid, Whi'ehis of smaller diameter on one side of "the suture plane. than the other, the uppergripping jaw will adjust itseli'accordingly, whereby to hold the peach precisely as it is inserted between these .jawsiwhen-theymove together under the tension of the, closing springs see. There are. a pair of springs'for each jaw, one-on each side of the vertical plane through the central The furcation 96 and the portion of these jaws,..the upper. ends being at..

tached to the pins H4. and" the'lower' ends of the springs being attac'hed'to the pins 535 of the lower jaws." It will be noted. that. the holding portions EM, 185 of the lower jaws and the por-- tions [92, iS-iof the upper. jaws are spaced apart to permit the entry of the saw 3'55 therebetween in the-subsequent cutting operation of thepeach through. its suture plane, presently to be described,

fingersiiiigit! and island lei-lies in the suture plane of the peach, which'is approximately the plane of the maximurndiameter of the peach, or parallel thereto.

Means for operating the jaw mechanism of the whole fruit, holding means-comprises a cam zen which is splined to the'upper endof the shaft ThiS'Cfi-ll'l is provided with an internal caniway adapted to receive a roller 282 mounted upon a slide 2%. disposed immediately beneath the cam and lying transversely across the shaft 555. The. slide is suitably slotted as at 2% (see Figs ures. 6 and 12) to permit movement of the slide back and forth transversely across the of the shaft 555. ,The slot is adapted to move in guideways 238 fixed to the extension support of the machine. The bottom portion of, the slide is provided. withtwo depending lugs forming extensions thereon. These lugs are 130 degrees apart. The cam race 202 of cam .289 extends 360 degrees of a total annular travel of the can-1., When theslide res ismoved toward the feed-in station, i. e., away from .the main or half fruit turret, the depending lug nearest the main turret moves toward the feed-in station, and. there. by pushes the roller .198 on the top of the upper finger of the corresponding whole fruit jaws inwardly toward the shaft 155, thereby positively to open these fruit jawsx Simultaneously, the

opposite lug 2H1; which is spaced "180 degrees 12 therefrom; moves in the same direction to permit theyspring i8 5 to-close theoppositely located 1 fruit clamping-jawsabout 01""lI1lJO engagementwith apeach'positioned by the fruit receiving saddle H5; and thereby hold the whole fruit firmly between the fingers ef-the Any--- variations size of successive peaches are auto-' ma-tically compensatedior by the yielding action of the "springs-1W6 between the upper and lower:

'clampingdaws, and any deviations in size on" opposite sides-'ofthe planeof'the suture oi the peach-are'compensated for-by the relative -move-- rnent between the members oithe upper fruit jaw.

The'uprightdifi on turretMi itias-rigidly bolted thereto as at 2 52* a laterally projecting-back ing member 2M, which is shaped as shown-in- Figure "8 therebyto pcsition'an-zi'firmly to;ho1d--' the rear portion of the peachpohoned-hete o. 'theclarnping jaws 'by-the Whole fruit receiver l "#5.

By reason of the 'foregoing' construotion; the

WhOlQ'-'flllil3i turret is intermittently rotated-to positioneach-pairof fruit holding-jaws at the receivingstation, during which'tiniethe jaws" are automatically held in open positionwhilea whole. peach is-fed "onto-- "the; peach-receiving cradle H5 in a manner hereinafter setforth, and' thereafter the receiverdl'S is moved upwardly to position'the peach, as shown in Figure 8, duringwhichttirne the-upper and lower-jaws 'of the At the same time that the turret is moved, the

sharit'fi-tfi is synchronously; driven-to operate automaticallyihe cam and slide -hereinbeforementioned to cause these proper openingand closing movements of these jaws in timed relation::

Further. referring to the'foregoing mechanism, once the whole peach is placed manually with the long or suture plane-axis of its stern cavity registering with and oriented by the position ng nib T54 of the fruit cradle; as illustrated in Figure '9.,the whole peaclrwill thereafter be ra sed upward-1y to the-positionshown in "Figure 8, with the stem axis downwardly inclined from the horizontal, as therein shown, and with the suture plane in predetermined position.- At this time the whole fruit jaws firmly grasp-the fruit as hereinhefore set forth, whereupon the fruit-re ceiving cradle moves downwardly, the turret then automatically shifts to the stem cavity trimming station; and at the same time an empty set of whole fruit holding jaws'isbrough into registration' ready for the next upward movement of the whole fruit receiving cradle.

It will thus be seen that the-whole fruit conveying means cooperates with the orienting means-in the in-feed station to preserve the orientation of the fruit, both in respect to its stern- ..1dent andits suture plane, as the fruit is presentedto processing means now to be described.

Means for controlling processing of in accordance with determination of the. sensing or inspecting member.

ture plane -mechanism,- specificallyin the form of suture plane sensing or suture plane inspection and control, means is provided as will now be described, such last named means forming a part of control means for controlling the operation of the peach processing mechanism, specifically a cutting means upon the peach in predetermined reference to the peach stem indent and suture plane and likewise controlling the determination of whether or not the peach is to be bisected, depending on whether or not the suture plane of the peach is properly oriented. This latter sensing mechanism as specifically herein disclosed comprises in particular, but not in a generic sense, a rotatable wheel adapted to have movement relatively to the whole peach and to roll relatively along the peripheral con- Vex surface of the whole peach and then move yieldably into the long axis of the stem indenture when such long axis or the suture plane axis of the stem indenture registers with the plane of rotation of the wheel.

The entering movement of the wheel which corresponds to a relative bodily movement of the wheel with respect to the peach, forms a part of control means for controlling the operative functionin of the peach cutting means, and more specifically inhibits the effective operation thereof when proper entry is not made, the sensing means thus additionally serving as a rejecting or inhibiting mechanism for precluding the effective operation of the cutting means upon the peach when the peach in reference to its stemindent and suture plane is not properly positioned. The sensing wheel is of sufficiently large diameter with regard to the dimensions of the longitudinal orv suture plane axis of the stem indent whereby when relative motion is roduced between the rotatable Wheel and the whole peach, and the wheel comes in contact with the convex curvature of the Whole peach and then subsequently comes into registration with the stem indent of the whole peach, the wheel dueto its said radius of curvature will enter radially into the stem indent to a maximum depth when the wheelregisters with the longitudinal or suture plane axis of the stem indent, but not otherwise. When the wheel-like sensing member fails to enter the stem indent, or enters the stem indent in a position angularly disposed in respect to the suture plane, the operative functioning of the processing mechanism of the machine, specificall; a cutting means as herein disclosed is varied and appropriately controlled.

Referring specifically to the mechanism herein disclosed, the rotary wheel sensing means is or may be associated directly with stem cavity peeling means disposed at a stem cavity peeling station. The present mechanism is designed emciently to remove the peeling from the stem" cavity of the whole-peach, in reference to its suture plane and elongated shape. Experience has shown that'in the majorityof peaches the stem cavities are of elongated shape and'not round, it therefore being desirable that the peeling operation' be effected in predetermined reference to the suture plane of the stem cavity.

In the present instance the stem cavity peeler isdisposed to operate upon the wholepeach while the latter is held in the wholefruit turret, and is the first station'of the mechanism operable upon the whole peach while in the *holdingjaws of th'is first turret. The mechanism for removmg the stem cavity and peeling is shown in the:

drawings. g v

"Referring particularly to Figure 1, mounted on scop-ic shaft arrangement 23d.

the top of the frame 12 is a motor 2l6, which drives a belt M8 to pulley 225 on the shaft 222. This shaft, in addition carries a worm gear 22d driving another gear 226 (see Figures 1 and 18) on a vertical shaft 236. This shaft 230 is connected by means of a universal joint 232 to a telescopic shaft arrangement 23%, which has pinned to the lower portion of the telescopic shaft arrangement a bevel gear 236. This telescopic shaft arrangement ncludes a driving key 238 of usual construction, and a spring 24% is provided to cause a more positive downward motion of the cutter assembly. Since the cutters 288 rotate counterclockwise as shown in Figure 17, there is a tendency for the cutters to create an upward thrust to the assembly, providing the spring 248 overcomes this. A shaft 23%] permits relative reciprocation of the movable portions of the telescopic shaft, while at the same time permitting a swinging movement of the cutter mechanism driven by the miter gear 236 which is secured to the shaft 234.

In addition to the telescopic shaft 23d, there is provided a swinging frame arrangement adjacent thereto comprising a bracket 242 rigidly mounted upon a support portion 2d of the main frame. This bracket 242 includes an outstanding pin-like bearing 2%, upon which a hub portion 248 of a mounting is adapted to oscillate. This hub portion 248 has a depending socket 259 having a depending shaft 252 aflixed thereto as at 254. The bottom portion of this shaft 252 has slidably, adjustably afiixed thereto a carriage 256 (see Figure 19). The upper portion of this carriage is provided with a smaller sleeve 258 are mounted. The lower portion of the carriage carries a ring-like member 234 having a depending bracket 266, which, as shown in Figure 18, comprise arms 268 and 2'53 and a sleeve-like support 272 for the bottom portion of the telescopic shaft 234. The central arm 270 has a lower portion 216 forming at its bottom end a bearing 218 for the bottom portion of the tele- Mounted in the arms 268 and 27d of this lower carriage is the shaft 288, to which is afiiXe-d a bevel gear 282 for driving the same from the bevel gear 236. Also mounted upon this shaft 289 between the arms 258 and 216 is th peeling cutter arrange ment comprising stem cavity and suture plane sensing member 283, preferably formed as a wheel or disk, and having oppositely disposed hubs 2841 which are loosely mounted upon the shaft 'This wheel 283 is rotatably mounted so that it can roll on'its shaft down into and out of the stem cavity. carrying with it a pair of rotating cutter blades 238 and 2%. By thus mounting the disk 28?, sawing or cutting of the fruit is prevented unless the stem indenture is in a pre determined position, and the character of the cutting operation is controlled in accordance with the position of the suture plane. Adjacent each hub 234 is a collar 285 and 23 5, which are keyed to the shaft 285] and form a support for said cutter blades 258 and 2%, which are of the general configurations shown in the drawings,

and are attached to the collars 235 and 235 by of the wheel 283, and because of this opposite V arrangement o'f'these concaved portions of'the cuttersincombination with thcwheel 233; which is adapted roll in the'suture plane aXis of the.

ccntralportion ofthe peach cavity, the cutters as they rotate will completely precisely out andsever the peel from the stem cavity.

Meansis provided for oscillating the cutter about'its swingable hearing pin 2%, and, in association therewith; there is provided a cam mechanism to give the cutter a definite swinging movement. By reference to Figure 1'? it will be seen thatmeans provided to place the stem cavity peelingcutters in position so as to partake of a swinging movement resiliently or inwardly toward and into the stern cavity of the peach, nd a positive displacement movement away from the stem cavity of the peach and/or substantr ly up-and down or Vertical,- reciprooatory movement longitudinally of the longer or suture plane of the stern cavity.

Referring particularly to Figure 23, mounted upon the whole fruit turret shaft l?) at the top thereof is a cam which is pinned to shaft asat. 362'. This cam is provided with a camway 3M; shown also in Figure 6. Slidably mounted transversely of the shaft 555 is a slide see, which is slotted as at to it such movement of this...slide. Such slide ca es on its upper surface; a roller. which operates in the cam slide 3M, whereby upon rotation of the shaft $55, the slide is reciprocated in the manner shown in Figure 2. This slide at end carries an operating arm 3!? provided with a roller Sl t. This roller is adapted to contact a vertical plate-like member which is, mounted upon the pivoted member 256, which swings with the assembly. A depending arm 3&8 having a cam portion are formed on its lower end, is pivotally mounted at on the id portion of the-support and it i pr vided h an inwardly extending shorter arm 53 adapted to be disposed between upper and lower screws and and by means of their adjustmentadapted to determine the position of the portion. of the arm $58, whereby to deterin he the adjustment of the movement of the cutter a it approaches the peach stem cav member 35%} is adapted to contact one of the rollers carried by the sleeve 255 on the swingable shaft 252 which in turn carries the cutters, whereby to prevent the cutters co t cting t e jaws till, if no fruit be therehetw The roller M, in cooporation with plate 3H3, positively forces the wheel and the cutters out contact with the cavity so as not to interfer with the movement a the whole fruit turret and the-whole fruit holdii means. On the other hand, a coil spring 3 has one end attached as at 3% to a ring to the depending sleeve and has its opposite end fixed to a pin 33s on an act-notabl arm 31 -5 turn fixed to oscillataole shaft 335 hereinafter referred to, whereby 325i constan v tends to draw the swing n cavitycutter sensing wheel yieldingly toward the peach when the slide 352 and its roller Bi l swings to the left, as viewed in Figure 17.

In addition to this movement, means. hereim before referred, to is provided for raising and lowering the sensing wheel and cutting mechanism in synchronized relation to the inward swinging movement the parts toward the stem cat v. This is accomp by the mechanism in rrgures' l7, 19, 2e 21. By means of this arrangement, when the rod 252 is oscillated latera-11y;byr=the:roller.v3it: cry the plate 316; and

by. means or. the spring. 328,- the rod will :shiftthe entire frame orsupport 2%,"which carriesthe Wheel and cutter head, while at the same time the sleeve 23% carrying the parts may be shiited vertically with respect to the rod 252,

due to the slot and blockarrangement there betwe n; The means for vertically raising and lov. the sleeve wii carrying the cutter headv and wheel 283 comprises the bar 3% hereinbeiore that actuates the bar as shown in the telescopic .223, Figure 18, will be raised and lowered vertically with respect to the sleeve .234, and it also will be retained in vertical alignment by the abutment 38 riding in the slot formed on the sleeve 23%.

If desired, the means for giving the carriage Z vertical, reciprocatory movement, may be omitted, and merely the swinging movement may. imparted to the carriage. It is preferred, however, to give the combination of movements. "t will be appreciated that, inasmuch as the elongated stem cavities of successive peaches vary in length and depth, the sensing wheel is provided to roll down through the cavity, allowing the opposedcutters to do the peeling, regardless of the length depth, and in conformity with the shape of the. stem cavity. The vertical movement and the swinging or oscillator y movement ar independent or one another but in timed relation.

In accordance with the foregoing it will be seen that the spring 328 resiliently or yieldingly pulls the sensing wheel 2B3 and. the peach relatively toward each other, while at the same time the wheel is given a vertical upward movement through. the: action of the power actuated arm 336, whereby the sensing wheel is caused to roll relatively along the convex surface of the peach the stem indent if and when the peach is in proper predetermined position.

The stem indenture of the peach in the direction of the suture plane axis merges smoothly and relatively flatly at each end with the convex surface of the peach, whereas in a direction and into and through the suture plane axis of tion-iwil'l occur; or alternatively if the peach is held so'that other'than the suture plane axis of the stem indenture comes into registration with the plane and path of movement of the sensing wheelthewheel will not enter the stem indenture to an appreciable extent and likewise no effective cutting action will occur.

Applicants have thusprovided in the wheel-- 2% an. inspecting or sensin' device which senses.

the position of the peach both with reference to 1 its stem indent and its suture plane, and which senses a or inspects. and .positions 1 thepeach and processing cutters 294 in respect'to each other and in respect to the peach stem indent and suture plane so that a predetermined processing operation in respect-thereto occurs. I While the sensing wheel 283 has been specifically disclosed herein in connection with the control of the processing cutters 294 for peeling the stem indent, it is to be understood that a rotatable sensing wheel such as the wheel 283 which rolls relatively to the peach along its peripheral surface, and then into the peach stem indent and further becoming aligned with the suture plane axis thereof, may be variously used as an inspecting member or sensing and/or control to effect the sensing and/or control of a peachand its processing mechanism relative to each other so as to effect the processing of the peach in a desired predetermined manner in respect to its stem indent and suture plane. A rotatable sensing wheel which rolls relatively circumferentially of the peach while the wheel and peach are yieldably radially urged toward each other, and which is shaped so as to enter the stem indent in one manner when in alignment with the suture plane, and in a distinguishably different manner when not in alignment with the suture plane, thus serves advantageously and effectively particularly as an inspecting or sensing member for peaches and like fruit, wherein orientation of the suture plane as well as in respect to the stem indent is a factor of importance, as distinguished from the orientation of cherries and fruit of like character.

As the peach leaves thestem cavity peeling station, it is transferred by the whole peach conveyor to the bisecting means, more specifically the cutting saw 316 which operates to bisect the peach into substantially equal size half portions. It will be seen, particularly by reference to Figs. 12, 25 and 26, that the sensing wheel, the bisector and the whole peach conveyor are so constructed as to maintain the suture plane of the fruit in the same position relative to the plane of the sensing wheel 283 and the plane of the cutting saw 316, although the wheel and saw are in specifically different planes relative to each other. By this means it will be seen that those peaches which are properly positioned as engaged by the sensing wheel will be main- -tained in proper position by the conveyor 'between the sensing wheel and the cutting saw so that the latter effects-the bisecting of such peaches substantially 1 along the suture plane thereof, and longitudinally of the peeled stem indent. V

After'the severing of the peaches the peach halves are transferred from the whole fruit conveyor to the half fruit conveyor more particularly shown in Fig. 2, and subjected to further processing operations, specifically the pitting operation shown at P on Fig. 2 of the drawing and the details of which are disclosed in ourprior Patent 2,398,780, issued April 23, 1946, and Pat- :ent 2,280,813, issued April 28, 1942, and its divisional application Serial No. 430,840, filed February 14, 1942, now issued as Patent 2,388,682 of November 13, 1945.

Suture plane orientation inspector and means operated thereby for preventing bisecting of fruit if not properly' oriented as to sutwre plane Y In combination with the foregoing structure there is provided means operable on the peach while supported, and more specifically, means 18 to rotate along the periphery of the peach and to enter to maximum extent into the long axis of the stem indent of the peach for the purpose of determining whether or not the peach shall be further processed. This means operates so that if the suture plane of the peach acted upon by the means is properly oriented as to suture plane, then the peach will be conveyed to peach 'bisecting, and thereafter, if desired, to peach pitting means. If, on the other hand, the peach is not properly oriented as to suture plane, means will be operated for precluding the bisecting and/ or subsequent pitting of that peach. More specifically the peach will not be fed or transferred to the peach bisecting means so that the peach will not be mutilated but can be recovered and put through the machine again. In the one aspect of the invention this means comprises the rotatable sensing wheel 283 that has heretofore been described as an inspecting means for the long axis of the stem indent of the peach. In the present aspect of this construction it comprises in combination with a sensing or determining means for determining the proper positioning of the long axis of the stem indent of the peach and for utilizing the proper orientation of the long axis stem indent of the peach for actuating mechanism for determining whether or not the peach shall be further fed to the peach bisecting means. In this aspect of the invention the cutting members 288 and 290- are not material and need not be used. Referring to Figures '17 to 24 for carrying out this 'part of the invention, a plate 402 is secured to the bearings 218 which have journalled therein the shaft 234, see Figures 17 and 18, and this plate is provided with slots 404 and 400. An-

other plate 408 is slidably mounted upon this plate 402 by studs M0 and M2. Stud 4H1, which is fastened in the plate, supports a spring 4! 4. The other end of the spring is supported by the ear 416 which is secured to the plate 402. This causes a downward urge to the plate 408 but allows the plate 408 to move upwardly in the slots 404 and 405 when certain actions herein.-

after disclosed take place. The bottom end of plate 408 carries the arcuate strap 4| BWhich has its arcuate center inrthe stud 248. Secured 'to the frame 303 is a depending arm 4|8 which has secured to its lower end the microswitch 420'. .The latter has the contacting lever 422 projecting therefrom. Secured to the stationaryv frame 244 is the depending arm 4-24 on which is pivotally mounted thesolenoid 42 6 by means of the pivotal stud 428.v Pivotally mounted on the stud 260 is a collar 430 which haspiv oted thereto the solenoid core 432.

, vSecured to the stationary frame 303 is also 60 a dependable arm 434 which has in turn secured .to its lower end the solenoid 436.

Fastened to the solenoid core 438 is a right angle lever 440 which acts on roller I90.

'I Wo electric wires 442 and 444 pass to a master switch 446. Wires 448 and 450 are passed to both the solenoids 426 and 436. Hence if electric contact is made in the microswitch both solenoids will be simultaneously energized. When' the wheel 283' rolls over the periphery of thepeach, if the long axis of the stem indent is not in registration with the, plane of rotation of this wheel, the wheel will not enter the'ste'm cavity to-its fullest depth and in the action of the mechanism the plate 4I6 will strike the contact lever 422 of the microswitch, causing the contact in the electric circuit which ener- 2,6 arse e9 as shown in Figure 24 of the drawing, The

solenoid 426 will hold theassembly, out until the roller 314- contacts the plate 316 at which time the assembly is raised, thereby" disconnecting the electro'contact and the solenoids are thereafter deenergized, However, if thepeach beproperlyoriented as shown in Figures" 17 to 215 the wheel:283- will roll-to maximu-m extent into: the long; axis of the stem cavity and accordingly-on the further action of the device the end=452* of: the plate M it will pass by the contact IeVerHZ -and no action will be taken by the solenoids; so that when-the assembly is swung out by the action-of roller 3l4- the opposite end'452 Qf'thearcuateplatel'lfi will-pass-the lever 422.

By the'timethe assembly is'ready'to rise, the

roller 3! 4' has contacted 'theplate 3 I Band pushed the assembly out a little farther so that the levers 422-and did-will pass each other without actuating the solenoids, so =that-the peach thus properly oriented and carried bythe jaws l8! and- I92" will be next-transferred to the peach bisecting station who acted upon by the 'bisectingsaws in the manner illustrated in.the

drawings.

From: the consideration of the foregoing it will be thus appreciatedthat in: one aspect'of the machine werhave utilized thesensi-ng roller 283 for indicating the position of the suture plane of thewholepeachand fordetermining whether or not thecutters 2'94 willact' upon the peach. We have: utilized this I same sensing wheel: as a suture plane determining: means: or sensing or inspecting member and have associated therewith peach processing control meansand operatedthereby due to-anddetermined by the claimed asnew and desired-to besecured by Letters Patentis:

1. In combination; rotatable suture sensing means shaped to enter the long axis of the stem indent of=a peach; means for-causing the rotatable means to.-roll.- along the curved periphery. of the peachandpenetrateintothestem indent of the peachwhen the sutureof thepeach is aligned with the said rotatable sensing means, peach cutting-means, means for conveying a peach to the rotatable sensing, means and then to said cutting means, peach ejectingmeans operatively connectedwto said conveyingmeans for ejecting an unoriented peach from said conveying means before: said-- peach is conveyed to said cutting means, and means operativelyconnected to the rotatable sensing ,means and the peach ejecting means: for actuating said peach ejecting means to eject-peaches not having theirsutures aligned with said sensingimeans while=passingeto said cutting; means: peaches which are:v aligned with saidisensing means- 2. Peach or like. fruit: processing; mechanism comprising in combination -an:orienting member shapedito conform to and-to enter. the stem indent of the-peach along thezlongaxis to maximum extent-when registered with the suture plane of the peach, ,means for positioning the orienting member to recei-ve awholepeach thereon, means for moving .thepeach and the orientingemember relativelywhile the-peach is-received on said orientingmember whereby; tocause thesuture plane of the'peach to/register with'the-longdimen-sion of the rorienting-member and the peach to-settle down-on said orienting member toa maximum extent when so oriented as to suture plane, peach cuttingimeansioperating in a predetermined plane, peach feeding mechanism receiving the peach from: said. orienting member. and operableto transfer the peach to the cutting means-with the suture. plane-of aproperly orientedapeac h lying-in -the plane of operation of the cutting meansewhereby'to-sever the peach along thehsnture plane, and means for preventing the feeding mechanism from: transferringqto said cutting-means a peach not settled down I to maximum extent onsaidprientingmember prior to the reception of. the peach bysaid: feeding mechanism.

3: In: a machine for handling whole' fruit such as peaches,=- Whole fr-uitreceiving and feeding means including; an elongated suture plane orienting member shaped to penetrate. into thezstem indent of :axwhole peach to-maximum extent when alignedlwith the long :axisof-the stem indent of a'whole peach carriedbysaidreceiving and feedingameans, meansfor causing relative bodily movement: betweenthe: whole 1 peach and said orienting member: to: align the long, axis of the stemindent-of: the peach with the: orienting means, fruit bisecti-ngameans operatively connected=to-said-feedingsmeans to bisectfruit fed tosaid=bisecting means by said feeding means, fruit position sensingmeans-dn advance of said bisecti-ng'. meansand operatively. connected to said feeding. 11189113518316. sensing means being shaped to enter the stemindent of the peach-to maximum-extent while alignedwith thelong-axis of the stem indent ofs a -iproperly oriented whole peach presented to saidsensing: meansby said feedingimeans, and meansoperativel-y connected tosaid \sensing-means-= andto said feeding; means to-discharge from the feeding means in advance of the-bisecting meansa whole peach the stem indent of which is not aligned with the sensing means-when presented to said-sensingmeans by said feeding-means Eeterenccs Citedin the file of this patent 

